Welcome to DBSTalk

Welcome to DBSTalk. Our community covers all aspects of video delivery solutions including: Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), Cable Television, and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV). We also have forums to discuss popular television programs, home theater equipment, and internet streaming service providers. Members of our community include experts who can help you solve technical problems, industry professionals, company representatives, and novices who are here to learn.

Like most online communities you must register to view or post in our community. Sign-up is a free and simple process that requires minimal information. Be a part of our community by signing in or creating an account. The Digital Bit Stream starts here!

With the new MPEG4 HD channels coming out will DirecTV be upgrading old MPEG 2 equipment to MPEG4 for free? I have a HR20 in my Living room, a H20 in the master bed, but in the den, the HR10-250 need upgraded so that it can view MPEG 4. Will directv upgrade for free or will I just have to live with the old MPEG 2 HD?

With the new MPEG4 HD channels coming out will DirecTV be upgrading old MPEG 2 equipment to MPEG4 for free? I have a HR20 in my Living room, a H20 in the master bed, but in the den, the HR10-250 need upgraded so that it can view MPEG 4. Will directv upgrade for free or will I just have to live with the old MPEG 2 HD?

I believe the upgrade price from the HR10-250 is $99 but a lot of people have got it done for free. You will just have to call and ask.

I was just offered the $99 deal today. That included the hr20-700, the 5 lnb dish and the install. They told me that they would take my hr10-250 with them though. I thought that sucked that they would take away my hd-tivo that I spent $500 on. I still haven't made a decision on if I'm going to do it or not.

They won't take your HR10-250. Its a common comment because they call it a "swap-out" but I think its darn near universal they won't take it unless you tell them too - and if they try, its easy to argue owned vs. leased.

I was just offered the $99 deal today. That included the hr20-700, the 5 lnb dish and the install. They told me that they would take my hr10-250 with them though. I thought that sucked that they would take away my hd-tivo that I spent $500 on. I still haven't made a decision on if I'm going to do it or not.

They didn't take my HR10 either. I actually use it in another room, non HD. But that thing can hold some SD!

I just had a HR20 put in (Monday), and was told they were going to take my hr10-250 in the swap-out.

The installers came, asked which box I was replacing, and I told them I wanted my D10 box replaced, not my HR10-250. They said "no problem", and deactivated my D10 box. My HR10-250 is happily working away in a new location in my house.

They did not take the D10 box, and it is sitting happily on the desk in front of me right now.

The installer told me they never actual remove receivers, but they do take dishes they have replaced.

I hope that relieves any of your concerns. Just tell the installer you want another box deactivated. Even if the HR10-250 is your only box, they should not actual take it after deactivation.

Actually, part of the offer is that they will relocate your HR10-250 to another room.

There are two kinds of Strength: the strength to lead, and the strength to follow; the strength to control, and the strength to yield. There are two kinds of Power: The power to strip another's soul bare, and the power to stand naked.

I was just offered the $99 deal today. That included the hr20-700, the 5 lnb dish and the install. They told me that they would take my hr10-250 with them though. I thought that sucked that they would take away my hd-tivo that I spent $500 on. I still haven't made a decision on if I'm going to do it or not.

Did you buy the HR10-250 or was it a lease from D*? If you own the IRD, and not lease, I can't imagine they'd take it. Maybe they thought it was D* equipment when they stated that?

I was just offered the $99 deal today. That included the hr20-700, the 5 lnb dish and the install. They told me that they would take my hr10-250 with them though. I thought that sucked that they would take away my hd-tivo that I spent $500 on. I still haven't made a decision on if I'm going to do it or not.

I doubt they will take it they left mine behind even though they said they would take it the installer wanted nothing to do with it.

Just posted all this over at AVS so a repeat here...caution even when the installer does not take your current lease unit:

I called last month to upgrade 2 HR10's to HR20's. One HR10 was mine, bought and paid for, the other was a lease unit.

Best offer on the first call was $198 less a $99 credit. Not bad, but I passed.

My wife called two days later, talked for 1/2 hour and hung up. Said she got both HR20's coming to us 100% free (no equp, install or shipping fees).

Install went ok a couple days later. Installer took one HR20 back to his truck as it was deemed DOA, it wouldn't clear the first couple screens after numerous attempts. Installer relocated my HR10 to a spare BR.

Wife asked him to take D*'s leased HR10 but he said they didn't want them back anymore. This was a D* installer, not 3rd party. (Whoot, thought I, ebay here I come)

About 4 days ago my wife called D* as there was a $20 shipping fee on our bill. She got D* to credit it back after a major argument. The very next day there was a $70 install fee, a $299 equipment fee and a $300 unreturned DVR fee: $670 total fees.

My wife called me at work cussing out D*. D* never once told us to return the DVR nor did they send a return kit. They didn't have good notes on the "deal" they had offered my wife (everything for free), thus the charges cropping up.

I called and hammered away for about an hour. They submitted the $299 equipment charge to their credit group for reversal after I pointed out the $199 - $99 credit deal I had been offered two days earlier...why would we suddenly accept a $300 deal? Made no sense.

Finally, they reveresed the $70 install fee, too and are sending us a return kit for the leased HR10.

Then the rep said, "It looks like you're due to send us back an HR20 as well...hate for that to show up as unreturned, now". I told them the installer tried the 1st unit and left with it. Unknown what's going to happen on this but that will really irk me if they try to charge us for that unit.

So even if D*/installer doesn't ask for a leased unit back...I'd sit on it awhile before selling it or otherwise...

About 4 days ago my wife called D* as there was a $20 shipping fee on our bill. She got D* to credit it back after a major argument. The very next day there was a $70 install fee, a $299 equipment fee and a $300 unreturned DVR fee: $670 total fees.

I had the same thing happen to me. My $66 HR20 turned into $299 by the time my first bill arrived. Now, I learned that I'm also paying $5 / month for a lease. My head still hurts from the rep explaining to me how I only leased the box for $299 (apparently to keep my from paying the $700 that it really cost. Huh?

I had the same thing happen to me. My $66 HR20 turned into $299 by the time my first bill arrived. Now, I learned that I'm also paying $5 / month for a lease. My head still hurts from the rep explaining to me how I only leased the box for $299 (apparently to keep my from paying the $700 that it really cost. Huh?

If you weren't paying the leasing fee, you'd be paying the mirroring fee (assuming that you have more than 1 receiver) which exists for any receivers activated before the leasing program began. It's basically the same fee just with a different name, so you're not really paying any extra to lease the box.